The week's best comedy on TV and radio

Not the busiest week for comedy on the main broadcasters, thanks largely to the Euros, but here’s our pick of the week’s programming:

Sunday June 27

HENNIKAY: Bill Bailey stars in this new comedy about a middle-aged man who, after 45 years, suddenly meets up with his imaginary childhood friend, Hennikay. Neither of them know why he is there after all these years, but he refuses to leave and even though he sees the world through the naive eyes of a child from 1976, Hennikay might just be able to help his friend… The cast also includes Sanjeev Bhaskar and Elizabeth Carling. Radio 4, 7.15pm

Monday June 28

SUSAN CALMAN’S GRAND WEEK BY THE SEA: The comic has forged a niche for herself as Channel 5’s presenter of UK travelogues, and all this week she will be visiting the seaside resorts of Brighton, St Ives, Southend-on-Sea, Blackpool and, tonight, Great Yarmouth. Channel 5, 8pm

Wednesday June 30

HEIDI REGAN: NO WORRIES: The stand-up - an anxious person at the best of times - discusses how the pandemic has affected her and her fiancee… who just happens to be a GP. As they ponder life’s big questions, Heidi's brain resorts to silly gags as she makes an argument for joking your way through crises. Radio 4, 11pm

ROBIN INCE'S LAST EVER SHOW: Back in 2016, Robin decided it was time to hang up his microphone for good (Spoiler alert: he didn't). But just before he resigned, he decided to commit the 'mess of thoughts he had jumbling up his brain' to a DVD, recorded  at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London. Tonight he introduces that recording, which will be streamed, then followed by a Q&A. Go Faster Stripe, 8pm

AMERICA: THE MOTION PICTURE: A tongue-in-cheek adult animated feature that tells the story of how America won the war of Independence against the British with a chainsaw-wielding George Washington and his beer-loving bro Sam Adams. Stars include Channing Tatum, Jason Mantzoukas, Olivia Munn, Judy Greer, Bobby Moynihan, Andy Samberg, Will Forte and Simon Pegg. Netflix

Thursday July 1

EXTINCTION COMPENDIUM: Comedian Jon Long draws on his other job as a council waste education officer to explore environmental issues through sketches, songs and expert interviews. He’s joined by biologist Gillian Burke in a show produced by Jon Holmes. Radio 4, 11pm

SOUTH BANK SHOW: The current series of Melvyn Bragg’s arts show looks at the nominees for the breakthrough award in this year’s South Bank Awards. Tonight’s episode features comedy duo The Pin - Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen - discussing their series of spoof Zoom sketches, as well as novelist Marina Kemp and film director, Nick Rowland. Sky Arts, 9pm

Friday July 2

THE LAST LEG: Aisling Bea and Great British Bake Off winner turned TV presenter Nadiya Hussai join Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker. Channel 4, 10pm

Saturday July 3

TEATIME WITH LAUREL AND HARDY: In 1921, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy first appeared together in the short The Lucky Dog, although not as a double act. To mark the centenary, Talking Pictures TV isrunning a series of their films every weekend, starting tonight with The Music Box (the short in which they try to move a piano up a long flight of steps) and their second feature-length picture, Pack Up Your Troubles, both from 1932. Talking Pictures TV, 4pm

Published: 27 Jun 2021